Newstalk Breakfast Highlights

With temperatures hitting 30 degrees this weekend, beach trips are a no-brainer but do you know your seaside do’s and don’ts? Features Journalist at the Irish Independent, Kirsty Blake Knox tells us.

Supermarkets have pushed back against claims of price gouging, saying their prices remain competitive and their profit margins are slim. We discuss further with Charlie Weston, Personal Finances Editor with the Independent. 

81% of Irish people say the drugs problem is out of control in this country – that’s according to new research published by Merchants Quay Ireland. It also shows that stigma remains a real and pressing concern for those in addiction in Ireland  

To discuss further Ciara spoke to Eddie Mullins, CEO of Merchant’s Quay. 

Many will be embracing the warm weather facing us this weekend, but Labour Party health spokesperson Marie Sherlock is calling for legally defined temperature limits for all workplaces to protect employees. Marie spoke to Ciara this morning.

A loyalist bonfire in Co Tyrone controversially topped with an effigy of migrants in a boat has been lit. The Police Service of Northern Ireland earlier said they were investigating a hate incident in reference to the pyre. 

An Irish tricolour flag was also placed on the bonfire, which is among about 300 which will be burned ahead of the Orange Order's annual 12 July parades. We get reaction to this with Sinn Féin Senator, Conor Murphy.

Tánaiste Simon Harris has said that 'careful consideration' was given to Palestinian GAA team's visa applications. As we reported earlier this week, 47 members of the team were due to come from the West Bank next week, but they were refused due to “insufficient documentation”.  

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Gill Waters, GAA Palestine Press Officer. 

Sunday marks 40 years since Live Aid, the benefit concert organised by Bob Geldof in 1985 following the success of the successful charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?". 

It is estimated that 150 million pounds has been raised for famine relief since Live Aid – but what other impacts have the concerts had? All to ask  Dipo Faloyin author of “Africa is not a country”.

The Social Democrats are proposing a savings scheme to fund affordable housing, saying it could deliver thousands of homes a year and help tackle the housing crisis.

With more on this we spoke to Rory Hearne, Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson.

We’re looking into a weekend of glorious weather, and with the sun comes barbecue season! So, what are the best recipes to make the most of the sunshine? Telling us all was TV Chef Aisling Larkin. 

A half-built school lying idle in North Dublin is a lesson in the State's inability to get things done. That’s according to Mick Clifford Special correspondent with the Irish Examiner. Mick spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

The EU has warned that airline delays could be at their worst ever this summer as understaffed air traffic controllers battle strikes, wildfires and high demand.   

To discuss further was Pádraig Ó Céidigh Founder of Aer Lingus Regional and Former Chair of Shannon Group. 

An expert group has urged a nationwide review of maternity services following a report into care at Portiuncula University Hospital 

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast with more on this was David Cullinane, Sinn Fein Spokesperson for Health.

A loyalist bonfire in Tyrone with an effigy of migrants in a boat has come in for widespread condemnation. Speaking to Shane this morning was Jamie Bryson, Editor of the Unionist Voice.

Seventy adults were baptised in the Archdiocese of Dublin this April, up from just 39 in 2024. It’s the highest number ever recorded by the diocese and the majority of converts were in their twenties and thirties. 

So, why is religion having a revival with some young people? Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports: 

European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen is facing a motion of no confidence in the European Parliament today. To hear more on this Ciara was joined by Jack Parrock, Brussels Based Journalist.

Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal West, Grace Boland has called for urgent action to boost public transport during major concerts, after reports of fans being stranded or forced to walk home due to limited late-night services.

The country is set for a scorcher this weekend! We get the latest on what the weather is going to be like for the next couple of days with Met Eireann Forecaster Aoife Kealy. 

CCTV cameras are yet to be installed on lamp posts in Dublin’s North Inner City to catch illegal dumping, despite initial plans to have them in place from last January. Why the delay? We asked Janet Horner, Green Party Councillor Dublin North inner city.

Savings being generated by the Injuries Resolution Board not being seen by policyholders.  That’s according to Brian Hanley, CEO Alliance for Insurance Reform, who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Minister for Education Helen McEntee has said the religious groups involved in historical sexual abuse "will be held accountable" following the Government's commitment to establish a Commission of Investigation into allegations of historical sexual abuse in schools across the country. 

 Speaking to Ciara this morning was John Coulter, Member of the survivors’ group Restore Together.

Delays on tests and treatments for cancer are causing avoidable deaths, as every four weeks waiting for treatment can increase mortality by 10 per cent.  That’s the latest warning from the Irish Cancer Society and Shane spoke to their CEO Averil Power. 

There have been calls for extra rail services for hurling fans travelling to the Tipperary v Cork All-Ireland Final. Will there be extra services? We asked Barry Kenny, Chief Communications Manager at Iarnrod Eireann.

With a long spell of warm weather on the way, Uisce Éireann is urging everyone to help protect our water supplies. We spoke to Mairead Conlon Asset Strategy Manager at Uisce Éireann. 

Barack Obama will visit Ireland in September and people can pay two thousand euro for a photo opportunity with him.  

With us to continue the discussion is someone who might know the former US President a bit better than us. Henry Healy, Moneygall native and eighth cousin of Barack Obama.

Getting your partner flowers, making them coffee every morning, giving them presents six months before their actual birthday. Is this the bare minimum in a relationship, or the “princess treatment”? 

This is the question that has been all over social media recently. We ask is it just encouraging unfair standards in relationships? All to discuss with Alana Kirk, Author and Midlife Coach. 

Almost half of families going without or cutting down on basic essentials. So says Barnardos in their Cost of Living 2025 report. We discussed the findings with Barnardos National Policy Manager, Stephen Moffatt.

New names for the Áras are emerging every week, but what if the next president of this Republic was, in fact, you? 

That’s the proposal of our guest Joe Humphreys, Assistant News Editor at The Irish Times and writer of the Unthinkable philosophy column. 

Former US President Barack Obama visit to Ireland. An evening with the former US President will take places in the 3Arena on Friday 23rd September along with a €2k photo opportunity. Ciara and Shane discussed this morning.

The European Union is to be given an extra three weeks to negotiate an agreement with the United States, to avert an escalating trade war between the two sides.  

Joining us now to discuss this further was Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European affairs and Columnist with The Currency, Dan O’Brien. 

There are fresh calls to scrap parking charges at Irish hospitals, after new figures revealed staff and patients paid nearly €19 million for spaces last year.  These figures were obtained by Labour’s social protection spokesperson and Kildare South TD Mark Wall who spoke to Ciara this morning.

A new domestic violence disclosure scheme could expose women and girls to an “unacceptable” risk of further abuse. That's  according to an internal Department of Justice analysis. 

To discuss further was Ellen Coyne, Political Correspondent with Irish times.

US President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for White House talks where the Israeli Prime Minister he has nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, presenting the US president with a letter he sent to the prize committee. 

 We get the latest on this with Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East Correspondent for The Economist. 

More than 1,800 teaching posts were left vacant this year, while many schools in the greater Dublin area are already struggling to fill positions for September. 

 That’s according to a review of teacher payroll from the Department of Education, and we heard from Michael Gillespie, General Secretary TUI. 

It’s a court case that the world has been watching. Australian mother, Erin Patterson, has been found guilty of murdering her estranged husband's parents and an aunt by serving them a beef wellington laced with poisonous mushrooms 

Marta Pascual Juanola, Crime reporter with The Age gave us the latest on this case. 

A reduction in the minimum size of studio apartments is among the measures that Cabinet will consider this week to encourage developers to build more. 

Speaking to Shane was Gavin Lawlor President of Irish Planning Institute. 

Consumers must be free to choose where they service their vehicles and what parts they use without fear of losing their warranty. That’s the call this morning from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, who are warning the motor industry to stop limiting consumer choice. 

We discuss this further with Craig Whelan Director of Antitrust for the CCPC. 

More than a year after new laws were introduced to regulate e-scooters, not a single prosecution has been brought for illegal modifications. Joining Shane to discuss this further was Barry Ward, Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire. 

An Israeli delegation is in Qatar for talks on a possible Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal.  This comes as later today Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to visit the White House to meet with US President Donald Trump. 

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Mark Weiss Israel Correspondent with The Irish Times. 

The death toll from devastating floods in central Texas has jumped to at least 82 people, with ten girls still missing from the worst-hit Kerr County. We get the latest on the devastating floods with David Smith, Washington Bureau Chief with The Guardian.  

July is “Anti-boredom month”, first invented in the 1980s to encourage people to get more active, both physically and mentally.  

But nowadays, do people need to embrace boredom a bit more?  All to chat to with Leslie Shoemaker, Counselling Psychologist and Lecturer in TU Dublin.